Do you think Robert Thompson is truly rehabilitated?

[Cheffymcchef]

As we all know, James Bulger was a two-year-old boy from the UK whose tragic abduction and murder in 1993 shocked the world. Taken from a shopping center by two ten-year-old boys, John Venables and Robert Thompson, his death became one of the most harrowing and widely known cases in modern British history. To this day, nearly everyone who hears his name knows the heartbreaking story and the profound impact it had on public consciousness and the justice system.
both boys were released after serving 8 years, when they turned eighteen. John Venables returned to prison twice for possessing CSAM. He is currently still in prison.
I personally think Venables is sick and can’t be “cured” of his attraction to kids. He will always reoffend imo, even if his devices etc are taken away. He needs to stay in prison. He’s also allegedly revealed his identity and needed several new identities costing the taxpayer even more. I know you get all this “stop it now” therapy- I just don’t think pedophiles can be cured. It’s like trying to do conversion therapy on a straight person.
I don’t know how I feel about Thompson- he committed a heinous murder, but did his time in custody. He’s never reoffended and now allegedly lives with a partner who knows who he is. Can’t remember if he has children. From studying this case, it always seems like he was deemed the ring leader, yet he is the one who has cleaned himself up and stayed out of trouble.
both boys allegedly came from abusive households.
I know poor James' mum will never get over his death. I cant imagine the mixed feelings she must have, she likely thinks it was wrong for either boy to be released so young.
I can’t say I’d be too thrilled about Thompson moving into my area if that’s the case, but truthfully I think if he’s done his time he needs to be left alone now to live his life . But that’s probably a wildly unpopular opinion- because James will never get to live his life.
what do you think?

posted in crime but moved here for traffic

I never saw you say you were 30

what I find odd is that you are trying to walk in their shoes so to speak

I mean what is interesting about these two killers? Child killers I should say

why do you want to understand their reasons - what are you going to get from it?

I think it is pretty obvious that any parent would be devastated if their child murdered a toddler? I mean why even ask?!

I was 11 when it happened and I thought it was the most heinous and horrendous thing anyone could ever do.

You remember better than me. I thought Venables came from an abusive home. Both came from poor homes.

Oh, did she? I didn’t know that.

I’m quite sure on what I’d do too. I think it might be the same as what you would. They could lock me away for 200 years, I’d put the cuffs on myself.

I agree. Never knew Venables had learning disabilities. He always seemed like he knew what he was saying in the interviews. RE Venables, I think being a paedophile (which he is now) is who he is similar to his sexuality in that he cannot change it. I think his “condition” (hate calling it that) cannot be changed and thus needs to be managed. Ie no access to kids or technology and to stay in prison.

I hope Thompson can live his life however I also hope he does feel genuine remorse for what he did.

I don’t know how I feel about Thompson- he committed a heinous murder, but did his time in custody.

Thompson never went to jail, IIRC. He was held in a secure children’s home at a cost of £300k pa.

He was released aged 18.

Whilst I’m glad he seems to be rehabilitated, I wouldn’t say he served his time.

The person who contacted her knew him. She appeared on a documentary confirming this happened. She stood and watched him until he walked out of view.

Are you sure Thompson's partner knows who he is Op?
I had dealings with someone involved with Venables as a late teen after his release. My understanding is that it was decided by his case workers not to tell his GF who he was.

I don't have children and I don't think there should be second chances for child killers.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that childless people are unable to feel protective of children.

And I'd say it's a certainly she knows what they look like today.

Jon Venables didn’t have learning disabilities, his brother and sister did.

Both Venables and Thompson knew right from wrong, according to their psychiatrists.

I didn’t ask whether Denise was devastated or not.

It’s a true crime discussion. If you don’t want to join in that’s fine. There are other people who don’t mind discussing it.

How? When she’s not seen them (for sure) since they went to prison?

I’ve only read your first post OP @Cheffymcchef .. If you’re going to start a thread like this, please honour the memory of poor little James Bulger correctly! He was never called Jamie, his mum always called him James. Please respect him properly.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider I don’t understand how people can forgive, since details of what they did to that poor toddler have never been released. It’s a very sanitary “tortured, killed”.

@Cheffymcchef If my child plotted, kidnapped, tortured and killed that would be it for me. I think it would shatter my heart to know I’d created a sadist and a monster. I honestly don’t think I could go on. I couldn’t bear to lay eyes on them again, I’d blame myself. I could never forgive them.

Yes they know

I would say equally dangerous. I can’t imagine there are many more worse crimes than what happened to James Bulger. It was heinous and beyond comprehension what two young boys did to that poor, defenceless toddler.

I agree. Lots of unhealthy interest about a tragic situation. Makes you wonder who you are talking to!

That’s interesting. I heard the opposite, that Thompson was from the more abusive home and Venables wasn’t.

Somewhere on my phone I have photos of JV which someone posted on Twitter. His then GF had shared them on FB after he’d told her who he was. The lady who shared them on Twitter was prosecuted for it so I’ve no doubt it’s him.

Will I share them? No. But what I will say is he still has those evil looking eyes and it’s quite obvious it’s him. He did go around telling a lot of people who he was. One lady he dated had a child too.

Denise can’t face to face with one of them, I can’t remember which one, but stopped herself confronting them. She’s got more restraint than I’d have

Good to read this. I think all people should be protective of children!

And op how do you know his girlfriend knows it’s him?

You actually don’t know that at all

And yes @NoisyBiscuit exactly

Why are you on here if you don’t want to discuss it?

there are loads and loads of true crime threads for many other cases. Are you going to write that on them too?

He is in a relationship with a man.

Denise talked about this. She became paralysed when she saw him. She had an idea in her head what she would do, but when it happened she froze.

There is no guarantee you'd do what you think you would do.